Machine for forming building blocks



Jan. 20, 1942- H. A. WELLNITZ 2,270,829

MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING BLOCKS Filed April '7, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 r|||l III.

Jan. 20, 1942. H. A. WELLNITZ MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING BLOCKS Filed April '7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 20, 1942. H. A. WELLNITZ MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING BLOCKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April '7, 1939 I K /v/ 6 s v A 7/. 9 m Amy 3 m y M w H w H a 2 a J u 2 H 7/ H g .5 m X w s W 7 1 1 m 9 WK 0 2 m fi g a n A 1 1 m m/ 2 W 1 H a n VWMV W W 4 5 v? 6 F p i Z 6 Patented Jan. 20,1942

MACHINE FOR FORMING BUILDING BLOCKS Harry A. Wellnitz, Columbus, Ohio Application April 7, 1939, Serial No. 266,584

6 'Claims.

This invention relates to concrete working machinery and, in its more particular aspects, is

directed to improvements ina machine for form;

ing cementitious building blocks. Priorto this invention, machines have been employed for the purpose of making such blocks but these machines have all been objectionable in that the blocks formed thereby contained air pockets and were so coarse grained, due to being insui iiciently compacted, that they readily crumbled and otherwise prematurely deteriorated. Another objection to the previous machines is the dimculty of quickly and surely forming perfect blocks due to inconveniences encountered in transferring the mixed materials from which the blocks are formed from a supply hopper to the forming molds.

The primary object of this invention resides in the provision or a machine which will avoid the above noted objections and produce accurately form-ed, close grained blocks at relatively high speeds.

The invention also proposes the formation of a machine with a material receiving hopper, a block forming mold mounted in spaced relation from the hopper and the provision of a measuring box mounted for movement from a position in registration with the hopper to one in registration with the mold to transfer the mixed cementitious materials from the former to the latter, the measuring box having improved agitating means to loosen and prevent the retention of the materials in the measuring box and provide for the free flow thereof into the forming mold.

It is also proposed to provide a movable support for the mold and means for imparting vibratory movement to the mold during the block forming operation, plate-like means also being provided to supply pressure to the top of the material disposed in the mold during the vibratory period to cause a more perfect compacting of the materials and the production of improved building blocks.

A further object rests in constructing a machine such as described above and providing power driven means to operate the various parts thereof, the machine being further provided with timing means to synchronize the operation of the various elements and make the machine substantially automatic. g

A more complete understanding of the invention and the objects thereof will be had from the following description'of the block forming machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood at this time that the machine shown in the drawings is merely illustrative of one form of mechanism for carrying out the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through a machine for forming building blocks constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line III--III of Fig. l and showing the mold for forming the blocks, means for vibrating the mold and means for applying pressure to the block as the mold is being vibrated;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating means employed in moving a measuring box from a position in registration with a supply hopper to and from the mold;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the measuring box and motor means for driving an agitator positioned in the measuring box:

Fig. 6 is a detail view of motion transmitting mechanism arranged between the agtiator in the measuring box and the driving motor therefor;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing means for resiliently supporting the mold:

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing clutch means by which a single cycle or operation of the machine is secured;

Fig. 9 is a similar view of a clutch providing for the connection of the vibrating mechanism to 35 a driven shaft of the machine;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the means for timing the operation of the various parts of the machine;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken 40 through the machine and disclosing shaft l8 and the elements carried thereby in plan.

The machine shown in the drawings comprises a base I having vertically extending side walls 2 and a top wall 3. At the forward end of the machine; a block shaping mold 4 is resiliently supported by providing its corner portions with hollow bosses 5 for the reception of coil springs 6, the latter, at their lower ends, engaging the supporting bosses I provided with the side walls. The bosses I are formed with central openings 8 to receive guide bars 9 threadedly carried by the mold bosses 5. The bars 8 permit the mold to move vertically with respect to the base in response to impulses produced by eccentrics I 0 secured to a horizontally extending shaft journaled in the side walls of the mold.

In the present instance, the mold is formed with three compartments, the lower ends of which have transversely extending bars |2 for the support of pallets i3 on which the material to make the building blocks is deposited. The bars |2 also support oval shaped cores l4 employed in forming openings in the blocks. The transversely extending shaft II has one end provided with a sprocket l5 around which an endless chain i6 extends, the chain also passing around a larger sprocket I1 journaled on a transversely extending main shaft IS. The main shaft is journaled for rotation in the side walls of the base of the machine and has one end equipped with a sheave wheel l9 driven by a belt 20 which receives motion from an electric motor 2|. The sheave wheel I9 is freely rotatable about the axis of the shaft I8 and has one end of its hub formed with a notch 22 to receive a dog 23 ,formed'on a clutch disk 24. This disk is splined to the shaft i3 and moves longitudinally thereof in response to forces applied by a pivoted lever 25.

The outer side wall of the clutch disk is also formed with a dog 23 adapted to be positioned in a notch formed in a bearing 21 at the outer end of the shaft l8. When the dog 26 is in the notch in the bearing, the shaft l8 will be held against rotation. When the clutch disk is moved into engagement with the sheave wheel, it will couple the sheave wheel to the shaft and provide for its rotary movement; To move the clutch disk into engagement with the wheel IS, the lower end of the lever 25 is connected as at 28 to the :arma ture shaft 29 of a solenoid 30. A coil spring 29a is placed between the lever 25 and the frame of the solenoid to hold the lever in a position to maintain the clutch disk free from engagement with the wheel l9.

By energizing the field coil of the solenoid through the actuation of a push button switch 3|,

- the lower end of the lever 25 will be drawn toward the solenoid and the upper end will cause the clutch disk to move into'engagement with the wheel i9 and couple the shaft l8 thereto. The clutch disk will be held in this position during one complete revolution of the shaft or until the dog 25 again registers with the notch in the bearing 21 at which time the spring 29a will move the lever 25 to free the clutch disk from the wheel.

Suitable speed reducing gears may be placed I through the chain l6 which passes around the sprockets i5 and H. The clutch disk 32 is moved into engagement with the sprocket by a pivoted lever 34 actuated by another solenoid 35. The operation of this solenoid is controlled and timed by mechanism to be later described.

Above the top plate 3, the machine is equipped with a hopper 36 for the reception of previously prepared cementitious materials from which the building blocks are formed. The lower or discharge end of the hopper is spaced from the top wall 3 and a measuring box 31 is located in this aavosea space. The end walls of the box are provided with rollers 33 arranged to run on longitudinally extending track rails 33 and to provide for the movement of the measuring box from the position shown in Fig. 1 in registration with the outlet of the hopper to a position registering with the mold. The rear wall of the box 31 is formed to include a shelf 40 which engages the lower end of the hopper and closes the outlet when the box is moved toward the mold. The wall 40 pre vents the materials in the hopper from falling out when the measuring box is out of registration with the discharge outlet.

The end walls of the box have aligned bearing openings for the rotatable reception of agitator shafts 4| having the agitating blades 42 secured in longitudinally spaced relation thereon. At one end of the mold box, the shafts have sprockets secured thereto and an endless chain 43 extends around the sprockets and provides for'the rotation of the shafts 4| in unison. One of the shafts extends beyond the end of the measuring box and has a spur gear 44 secured thereto. This gear meshes with a similar gear 45 carried by a stub shaft 43 supported for rotation by the end wall of the box 31 and a plate 41 carried by the a sprocket secured thereto and,which is connected by a chain 48 with a similar sprocket provided on the shaft 49 extending from a gear reduction housing 50 supported by an electric motor 5|.

The motor 5| is mounted on a carriage 52 having rollers 53 positioned for longitudinal movement on a. rail 54 supported at one side of the machine. The carriage 52 is rigidly connected with the measuring box and moves in unison therewith when the box is moved from registration with the hopper to the mold. When the measuring box is in registration with the mold,

the motor 5| will be energized to cause a rota-' tion of the shafts 4| and the blades 42 will agitate the materials in the box and provide for' a switch carrying block 51 and moves the'switch element thereon into engagement with a pair of spaced contacts 58 connecting the motor 5| with a source of current. After the projection 56 moves out of engagement with the block 51, current flow to the'motor will be discontinued and the agitator shafts 4| stopped. Injury to the agitating mechanism by its engagement with rigid substances is prevented by the use of the chains 43 and 48 which will break in the event anything engages the agitator blades to prevent their rotation.

To provide for movement of the measuring box, the shaft It has a gear segment 59 secured for rotation therewith. As the shaft |8 revolves, the teeth of the segment 59 will engage a pinion 60 carried by the machine and connected with a larger gear 6| arranged in meshing engagement with a second pinion 62, the teeth of which engage a rack 63 connected to the measuring box. Continued movement of the segment causes the gears 30, 6| and 32 to transmit motion to the rack and the measuring box. The direction of movement is forwardly of the machine. By the tim the measuring box registers with the mold, the segment will havepassed the gear 60 and further movement of the box will be precluded. Continued movement of the segment will bring the teeth of the segment into engagement with a second gear is similar in size to the gear II and meshing with an idler gear 55 secured for rotation with another gear 66 corresponding in size to the gear The teeth of the gear ll mesh with a small gear 51. The teeth of the gear 81 are also in mesh with the rack 65.

when the segment imparts motion to the gears 64, 55, 56 and 81, the mold box will be moved rearwardly of the machine, due to the provision of th extra idler gear 55. The spacing between the gears 50 and 54 is suflicient to permit the measuring box to remain over the mold long enough to provide for the complete discharge of. the cementitious mixture from the measuring box into the mold. When the segment is disposed between the gears 50 and N, the projection 56 on the timing disk will engage the block 51 to complete the circuit-for the motor 5|. After the measuring box has been moved away from the mold, the projection 58 on the timing disk will engage a second movable block 58 and move it to a position wherein a switch plate 69 carried thereby will bridge a pair of spaced contacts Ill connected in circuit with a pair of solenoid coils, the first of which is the solenoid 35 used to connect the sprocket II with the main shaft l8.

As long as the contacts ill are bridged, the sprocket H will be coupled to the main shaft and rotary movement will be imparted to the vibrator shaft ll causing the vibration of the mold. As the solenoid 35 receives current, a third solenoid II will also be energized. The armature 12 of the solenoid 'Il engages a spring pressed latch 13 provided with a pressure plate carrying fram 14. This member is mounted for sliding movement in a pair of vertical guides I5 carried by the machine at the ends of the mold. The upper ends of the guides support a transversely extending bar 15 to which the frame of the solenoid H is secured. When the solenoid II is actuated, the member M will be released and permitted to drop, bringing the plates I1 carried on its under side into engagement with the material deposited in the mold by the measuring box. The plates I1 apply pressure to the material as the mold is being vibrated and a more compact block will be made.

After the projection 55 moves away from the block 58, the contact 59 will move away from the contacts and further current flow to the solenoid 35 will be discontinued. The spring 33 will then move the clutch disk 52 away from the sprocket l1 and vibration of the mold will stop. By this time a cam I8 secured for rotation with the main shaft will engage one end of a pivoted lever 18, the opposite end of which is disposed beneath an elevating mechanism 80. In this instance, the elevating mechanism includes a transversely extending bar 8| provided at its ends with vertically extending rods 82. These rods are slidably received in sleeve members 83 mounted for vertical movement in the guides and carried by a second transversely extending plate 84. This plate normally rests on stops 85 which serve to hold it spaced from the member ti so that initial movement will be imparted to the member 8| andthe rods 52 before movement is initiated by the plate 84. The plate 84 is provided with vertically extending pins 85 which when the member 84 is moved upwardly, engage the pallets and move the blocks upwardly out of the mold. The initial movement of the members '2 serves to move the plates 11 out of engagement with the formed blocks prior to their movement out of the mold. After the blocks have been moved to an elevated position, they may be removed by lifting the pallets of the pins 85. when the blocks have been raised to their elevated position, the member 14 will have been moved upwardly a distance sufficient to permit the latch 13 to engage the armature 12 to locate the member II in its elevated position. As the cam 18 passes the end of the lever 19, the plates BI and I4 will drop by gravity to their lowermost positions when the machine will be in condition for another cycle of operation.

Prior to closing the switch 3| to start the machine in operation, the operator will insert a pallet ll in each of the compartments of the mold. These pallets support the blocks while they are being cured after which they may be used in the formation of additional blocks.

I claim:

1. In a building block forming machine of the type having a movable measuring box for transfening the cementitious materials from a hopper to a mold, means for agitating the material in said box comprising guide means'carried by said machine adjacent said hopper and mold, a carriage secured for movement with said measuring box on said guide means, motor driven speed reducing means mounted on said carriage, a pair oi shafts journaled in said measuring box, longitudinally spaced knife-like agi= tating blades carried by each of said shafts, the blades on each shaft being offset with relation to those on the other shaft, a sprocket secured to each shaft, chain means extending around said sprockets, and motion transmitting means connecting said speed reducing means and said shafts.

2. In a building block forming machine of the type having a measuring box for transferring the cementitious materials from a hopper to a mold, means for agitating the material in said box comprising a pair of rotatable shafts extending transversely of said measuring box in parallel relationship, longitudinally spaced knifelike blades carried by said shafts, motor driven actuating means secured for movement with said measuring box, and motion transmitting means connecting said shafts with said actuatmg means.

3. In a building block forming machine of the type having a measuring box for transferring cementitious materials from a hopper to a mold, means for agitating the "material in said box comprising guide means carried by said machine adjacent to said hopper and mold, a carriage secured for movement with 'said measuring box on said guide means, motor driven speed reducing means mounted on said carriage, a shaft journaled in said measuring box, knife-like agitator blades secured to said shaft in longitudinally spaced relation, and motion transmitting means connecting said speed reducing means and said shaft.

4. In a building block forming machine of the type having a movable material measuring and transferring box, a plurality of agitator shafts extending transversely of said box and Journaled for rotation therein, longitudinally spaced agitator blades carried by said shaits, means connecting said shafts and operating to rotate the same in unison, and electrically operated power means for imparting rotary movement to said shafts, said power means being movable. with said box and operated onlywhen said [box is.

in a particular position of adjustment.

5. In a building block forming machine of the type having a movable material measuring and transferring box, a plurality of agitator shafts extending transversely of said box and journaled for rotation therein, longitudinally spaced agitatorblades carried by said shafts, chain and sprocket means connecting said shafts and providing for the rotation thereof in unison, motor driven speed reduction gear mechanism having a rotatable stub shaft, and motion transmitting mechanism connecting said stub shaft and one or said agitator shafts, said speed reduction mechanism being operated in one position of movement of said box only.

position.

HARRY A. WEILNITZ. 

